Singh (right) - new Masters champion (Allsport)

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Vijay Singh, who kept his nerve under intense pressure to win his first Major two years ago, did it again on Sunday and became Masters champion.

The 37-year-old Fijian, who left the European tour to pursue his career in America, was caught, but never headed on a final day at Augusta National when he had to play not just 18, but 22 holes.

Singh, winner of the US PGA title after a duel with Steve Stricker in 98, this time held off a formidable quartet of stars to triumph by three.

After completing a third-round 70 with four pars at dawn - the round could not be completed after Saturday's thunderstorm delay - Singh shot a closing 69 for a 10 under par total of 278.

He put the icing on the cake when, with three putts to win from 18 feet on the final green, he holed it to the cheers of the packed crowd.

Singh's prize was £520,035, the biggest winning cheque ever offered in major championships, but it was the achievement that meant most to the man whose early career was full of struggles around the world. He even had to work in Borneo for a while.

South African Ernie Els, desperate to add a green jacket to his two US Opens, shot a best-of-the-day 68, but it was only good enough for second place.

Els took that on his own when world number two David Duval bogeyed the last after unluckily driving into a filled-in divot hole down the last and chunking his second short of the green.

Because of the resultant bogey - he chipped to seven feet and went for the putt straightaway to leave the stage to Singh, then missed it - Duval fell into a tie for third with fellow American Loren Roberts.

World number one Tiger Woods, who had been joint 47th with 30 holes to play, continued his late charge with a 69, but was able to birdie only one hole on the back nine and had to settle for fifth spot.

Singh carried a message from his nine-year-old son Qass on his bag throughout the final day. It read: "Papa, trust your swing."

But the best club in the bag for the world number eight, one of the hardest workers in the game, was his putter for most of the week.

Three times over the front nine Duval sank putts to draw level, but each time Singh followed him in.

In fact, the pattern had been set first thing in the morning. At the 16th in the third round Singh holed an eight-footer to save par, then even more crucially on the next he saved par from 18 feet and Duval missed a five-foot birdie chance to stay three behind.

Singh said: "I just focused on what I was doing. I only thought I had it won when I put my second onto the green at the last.

"The only way I could lose was if I bogeyed and David birdied.

"This is such a special tournament and having my family here to see me win it means a lot."

Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington finished joint 19th, debutant Harrington just missing out by two shots on guaranteeing himself a return invitation next April. He needed top 16 for that.

Nick Faldo disappointingly fell back to 28th on five over with a 75, while Ian Woosnam matched that to be seven over with Darren Clarke, who also cursed his luck after catching the worst of the Saturday afternoon winds. Clarke, his chance gone, closed with a 74.

Singh's three-stroke lead at the start of the final round was cut to two when Duval birdied the second and then to one when he three-putted the next.

Duval then holed from 12 feet at the short 10th, but Singh followed him in from 10.

At the long eighth the same happened, though from shorter distance, and at the ninth Duval holed from five feet and Singh from three, both after superb approaches to the dangerous green.

Duval was therefore out in 32 to Singh's 34, but when Duval bogeyed the 10th the gap was two again.

Entering Amen Corner, the famous three stretch of holes from the 11th, Singh wobbled. He went into the water with his second to the 11th, but escaped with a bogey five, then got up and down from sand at the dangerous 12th after fortunately coming out of the azalea bushes into the bunker.

When he found the green at the long 13th in two Duval felt the need to attack - and paid the price. "I just hit a bad shot," he was to say later.

The ball went into Rae's Creek, he bogeyed and Singh two-putted for birdie.

Els continued to stay in the hunt with birdies at the 13th and 15th, but when Singh hit a glorious long iron round the trees on the 15th and two-putted for a matching birdie it was his to lose.

He did three-putt the 16th from long range, but was as solid as a rock at the final two holes and fully deserved his victory.

Vijay means "victory" in Hindi and from the unlikeliest of beginning in the South Sea Islands Singh is now a two-time Major champion.

Woods, before the tournament the hottest favourite for any Major in history, said: "I'm proud of the way I got back in the hunt, but three putts got away early on the back nine. Two I hit beautifully, but the third (from five feet on the 13th) I misread.

"For some reason it was just not meant to be for me this week. But at least I gave myself a chance.

"The golfing gods were not looking down on me in a good way."